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Written in a respectful and conversational style, this unique book
is designed to promote constructive dialogue and foster mutual
understanding between Christians and non-Christians. The author, a
skeptic and journalist, asks basic questions about Christian
belief. What is the born-again experience? Why would God want to
sacrifice his only son for the world? Do miracles really happen?
How reliable is the Bible? What is the rapture? Why isn't everyone
a Christian? Each question is followed by commentary and analysis
that is skeptical and tough but never argumentative or
condescending. Christians will find the book useful as a basis for
developing their apologetics, while skeptics will welcome
Harrison's probing rational analysis of religious claims.
The concept of race has had a powerful impact on history and
continues to shape the world today in profound ways. Most people
derive their attitudes about race from their family, culture, and
education. Very few, however, are aware that there are vast
differences between the popular notions of race and the scientific
view of human diversity. Yet even among scientists, who understand
the current evidence, there is great controversy regarding the
definition of the term race or even the usefulness of thinking in
terms of race at all.
Drawing on research from diverse sources and interviews with key
scientists, award-winning journalist Guy P. Harrison surveys the
current state of a volatile, important, and confusing subject.
Harrison's thorough approach explores all sides of the issue,
including such questions as these:
- If analysis of the human genome reveals that all human beings are
99.9% alike, how meaningful are racial differences?
- Is the concept of race merely a cultural invention?
- If race distinctions are at least partially based in biological
reality, how do we decide the number of races? Are there just three
or maybe 3 million?
- What do studies of racial attitudes reveal? Are we all, in one
way or another, racists?
- How does race correlate with environmental and geographical
differences?
- Are race-based drugs a good idea?
- How does race influence intelligence, athletic ability, and love
interests?
Harrison delves into these and many more intriguing, controversial,
and important questions in this enlightening book. After reading
"Race and Reality," you will never think about race in the same way
again.
Many books that challenge religious belief from a skeptical point
of view take a combative tone that is almost guaranteed to alienate
believers or they present complex philosophical or scientific
arguments that fail to reach the average reader. This is
undoubtably an ineffective way of encouraging people to develop
critical thinking about religion. This unique approach to
skepticism presents fifty commonly heard reasons people often give
for believing in a God and then raises legitimate questions
regarding these reasons, showing in each case that there is much
room for doubt. Whether you're a believer, a complete skeptic, or
somewhere in between, you'll find this review of traditional and
more recent arguments for the existence of God refreshing,
approachable, and enlightening. From religion as the foundation of
morality to the authority of sacred books, the compelling religious
testimony of influential people, near-death experiences, arguments
from Intelligent Design, and much more, Harrison respectfully
describes each rationale for belief and then politely shows the
deficiencies that any good skeptic would point out. As a journalist
who has traveled widely and interviewed many highly accomplished
people, quite a number of whom are believers, the author
appreciates the variety of belief and the ways in which people seek
to make religion compatible with scientific thought. Nonetheless,
he shows that, despite the prevalence of belief in God or religious
belief in intelligent people, in the end there are no unassailable
reasons for believing in a God. For skeptics looking for appealing
ways to approach their believing friends or believers who are not
afraid to consider a skeptical challenge, this book makes for very
stimulating reading.
Think more critically, learn to question everything, and don't let
your own brain trip you up.
This fresh and exciting approach to science, skepticism, and
critical thinking will enlighten and inspire readers of all ages.
With a mix of wit and wisdom, it challenges everyone to think like
a scientist, embrace the skeptical life, and improve their critical
thinking skills.
"Think" shows you how to better navigate through the maze of biases
and traps that are standard features of every human brain. These
innate pitfalls threaten to trick us into seeing, hearing,
thinking, remembering, and believing things that are not real or
true. Guy Harrison's straightforward text will help you trim away
the nonsense, deflect bad ideas, and keep both feet firmly planted
in reality.
With an upbeat and friendly tone, Harrison shows how it's in
everyone's best interest to question everything. He brands
skepticism as a constructive and optimistic attitude--a way of life
that anyone can embrace. An antidote to nonsense and delusion, this
accessible guide to critical thinking is the perfect book for
anyone seeking a jolt of inspiration.
Maybe you know someone who swears by the reliability of psychics or
who is in regular contact with angels. Or perhaps you're trying to
find a nice way of dissuading someone from wasting money on a
homeopathy cure. Or you met someone at a party who insisted the
Holocaust never happened or that no one ever walked on the moon.
How do you find a gently persuasive way of steering people away
from unfounded beliefs, bogus cures, conspiracy theories, and the
like?
This down-to-earth, entertaining exploration of commonly held
extraordinary claims will help you set the record straight. The
author, a veteran journalist, has not only surveyed a vast body of
literature, but has also interviewed leading scientists, explored
"the most haunted house in America," frolicked in the inviting
waters of the Bermuda Triangle, and even talked to a "contrite
Roswell alien." He is not out simply to debunk unfounded beliefs.
Wherever possible, he presents alternative scientific explanations,
which in most cases are even more fascinating than the wildest
speculation.
For example, stories about UFOs and alien abductions lack good
evidence, but science gives us plenty of reasons to keep exploring
outer space for evidence that life exists elsewhere in the vast
universe. The proof for Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster may be
nonexistent, but scientists are regularly discovering new species,
some of which are truly stranger than fiction.
Stressing the excitement of scientific discovery and the legitimate
mysteries and wonder inherent in reality, this book invites readers
to share the joys of rational thinking and the skeptical approach
to evaluating our extraordinary world.
Science fiction has hosted some of the greatest minds and most
innovative thinkers in human history. From Orson Wells to Octavia
Butler, Star Trek to Star Wars, in books, on television, and at the
movies, science fiction has shaped our future, pushed the limits of
human imagination, and guided us within ourselves to examine the
universal truths of life. In this smartly curated book, author Guy
P. Harrison collects 1,001 of the most influential and
transformative quotations over the centuries of sci-fi. “Better
to make a good future than predict a bad one.” ― Isaac Asimov,
Prelude to Foundation, 1988 novel “Hope clouds observation.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965 novel “All men, however highly
educated, retain some superstitious inklings. ― H. G. Wells,The
Invisible Man, 1897 novel “No amount of money ever bought a
second of time.” ― Avengers: Endgame, 2019 film, written by
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Whether you are a Dr. Who
superfan, a diehard sci-fi reader, or an outer space film buff –
or are simply curious about the cosmos – Damn You, Entropy! is an
essentialaddition to every science fiction fan’s library.
At a time when the news cycle turns on a tweet, journalism gets
confused with opinion, and facts are treated as negotiable
information, applying critical thinking skills to your social media
consumption is more important than ever. Guy P. Harrison, an upbeat
advocate of scientific literacy and positive skepticism,
demonstrates how critical thinking can enhance the benefits of
social media while giving users the skills to guard against its
dangers. Social media has more than two billion users and continues
to grow. Its widespread appeal as a means of staying in touch with
friends and keeping up with daily news masks some serious
pitfalls-- misinformation, pseudoscience, fraud, propaganda, and
irrational beliefs, for example, presented in an attractive,
easy-to-share form. This book will teach you how to resist the
psychological and behavioral manipulation of social media and avoid
the mistakes that millions have already made and now regret.
Harrison presents scientific studies that show why your
subconscious mind loves social media and how that can work against
your ability to critically evaluate information. Among other
things, social media reinforces your biases, clouds your judgment
with images that leave a false impression, and fills your brain
with anecdotes that become cheap substitutes for objective data.
The very nature of the technology keeps you in a bubble; by
tracking your preferences it sends only filtered newsfeeds, so that
you rarely see anything that might challenge your set notions.
Harrison explores the implications of having digital "friends" and
the effects on mood, self-esteem, and the cultivation of friendship
in the real world. He discusses how social media affects attention
spans and the ability to consider issues in depth. And he suggests
ways to protect yourself against privacy invasion, cyberstalking,
biased misinformation, catfishing, trolls, misuse of photos, and
the confusion over fake news versus credible journalism.
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